University of Oxford students have seized a campus building in protest over the deferral of a decision to divest in fracking shares.

Fifteen students
carrying a banner have occupied the Clarendon Building.

Former University of Oxford Finance Director John Clements threw
his lot in with the protestors.

“We are bitterly disappointed about the university’s failure
to come to a decision,” Clements told the Guardian.
“Oxford should be leading the move away from investment in
all world-destroying fossil fuel companies to more sustainable
forms of energy.”

The sit-in follows a decision by the university to place talks
regarding fossil fuel industry divestment on hold

In October last year the Oxford University Students Union (OUSU)
voted for a motion demanding the world famous institution
relinquish shares in fracking and tar sands extraction and
instead buy into what campaigners say are more environmentally
sound industries.

“Last October’s Oxford university student union resolution
has raised an important and multi-faceted matter which requires
thorough consideration. The university council had a good
discussion of the issues and agreed to consider the matter
further at a future meeting.”

One student environmental activist, Ellen Gibson, told the
Guardian: “Choosing not to act at a time when inactivity is
an increasingly risky and unethical move. Avoidance of divestment
by the University will not slow our campaign or indeed the
pressing need for meaningful action on the climate crisis.”

The campaign to divest from fracking has been gathering
considerable momentum in the UK.

As the Oxford divestment vote was passed in October, the
University of Glasgow also pledged to step away from fracking.

The same month saw the Move Your Money Campaign, which is backed
by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, urge the customers of
major UK banks to demand their involvement in the fossil fuels
industry be made public.